Why no love for MeldaProduction MReverb and MMultiBandReverb?

[AKJ]

Hi,

I wondering why there is so little love for MeldaProduction MReverb and MMultiBandReverb. When I demoed them I found them to be very, very good sounding and they are quite affordable.
I tested them against my old to-go reberbs the spinaudio Roomverb M1 and M2 (which I learnt to master in the past) and found that it competes quite well. I could live happy with the Roomverbs, but they are not available in 64 bit (and never will since SpinAudio is shut down) and I will probably soon switch to 64 bit only.

I know, many will now recommend Valhalla Room. But I tested them side by side and found the following: while Valhalla is more of instant gratification, MReverb/MMultiBandReverb can surpass the sound of Valhalla when twaeking the preset sounds (which are maybe not the best). What is more, MReverb/MMultiBandReverb offer a lot more features and thus possibilities for twaeking (in this regard it resembles the SpinAudio Roomverb). A great highlight is imo the spatial positioning system which allows for simulation movement in a room.

So is it just that it is less known, or why else is this product ignored in reverb discussion? Have you tested it? What are your objections?

cheers, akj

[paterpeter]

I personally find that MReverb sounds much less natural compared to EAReverb, Valhalla Room or CSR. It's more difficult to dial in a smooth reverb tail in MReverb than in the other three. Also, it isn't as flexible soundwise. The reverb modes don't differ by much and the available parameters are fairly basic. That doesn't mean the MReverb can't sit perfectly in the mix in a specific situation. It also has some unique features as you mentioned, for example when it comes to modulation. I'm in the lucky situation to have all four reverbs mentioned here, so I can pick whatever fits my needs best.

So in the end the reason why MReverb is "ignored" is probably that it just isn't that special compared to what else is available. With plugins like EpicVerb or Ambience being available for free I don't deem MReverb a must-have. IMO Vojtech has some much better plugins in his portfolio. And believe me, the upcoming MXXX will be awesome!

[AKJ]

I would really be interested in having a fair comparison as I found the MReverb sounding exceptionally good (to my ears only, of course). I will be posting a dry vocal example. So if you got time, would you be willing to post some wet examples that really show how Valhalla (which I really wanted to like) and the others mentioned are superior?

cheers, akj


ps: really waiting to see what MXXX is like

[AKJ]

so here is a dry vocal example:

http://www.power-xs.net/download/vox_dry.mp3


cheers, akj

ps: please, use the vocal line only for the reverb test and not in your projects.

[Shy]

Have you tested it? What are your objections?

cheers, akj

I haven't tested it and have no intention to, because Melda is a developer which in a short time, has been making many basic effects that don't sound better than others, and often sound worse, like the ones I have tested: limiter, compressors/"dynamics", "maximizer", chorus, phaser.

I can just assume the reverb is yet another one of them, most probably basic code he cleaned up a little and maybe added small features to, unlike serious reverb developers who have spent many months and sometimes years on their reverb effects.

I also can't get the MDrummer forum incident out of my mind.

[paterpeter]

so here is a dry vocal example:

http://www.power-xs.net/download/vox_dry.mp3


cheers, akj

ps: please, use the vocal line only for the reverb test and not in your projects.

What kind of reverb do you want?

[AKJ]

Have you tested it? What are your objections?

cheers, akj

I haven't tested it and have no intention to, because Melda is a developer which in a short time, has been making many basic effects that don't sound better than others, and often sound worse, like the ones I have tested: limiter, compressors/"dynamics", "maximizer", chorus, phaser.

I can just assume the reverb is yet another one of them, most probably basic code he cleaned up a little and maybe added small features to, unlike serious reverb developers who have spent many months and sometimes years on their reverb effects.

I also can't get the MDrummer forum incident out of my mind.

altough I tend to agree that there are better EQs and Compressors out there, some of the plugins are quite good. In the free pack this applies especially for autopan, vibrato, tremolo and the analyzer. The harmonizer, the delay and both the convo and the algorithmic reverb are imo very good, too. That's why I got their creative bundle recently (it's on discount). I am going to post a wet example of the reverb, so that one can get an impression.

[AKJ]

here is the announced wet example:

http://www.power-xs.net/download/vox_we ... leband.mp3

(is was done using MMultiBandreverb but with only one active band since I believe that multiband is not at all needed nor desireable in a reverb. I just got the multiband version as it was part of the creative bundle together with some other plugs I was interested in.)

[AKJ]

What kind of reverb do you want?

well, I like natural sounding rooms and halls but post anything that show how the products mentioned are superior if you like.

[paterpeter]

I don't consider myself eligible for a serious reverb shootout, but here is your sample and a drumpattern with (not in this order) CSR Hall, EAReverb, MReverb and VRoom (both the vocal and the drums using the same settings). I won't tell the order for now, just to let you listen without prejudice.

http://soundcloud.com/petergonesonic/reverbs (the wav version is downloadable)

While I tried to use settings that are similar, it doesn't mean those couldn't be tweaked to sound better/more similar. It's just to give a rough comparison. I have no intention to prove anything with this example, though. Some prefer one reverb, some prefer another. *Personally*, I like MReverb the least on this example. But this could be a matter of settings, of course.

[AKJ]

thanks, blind testing is very good.
first impression: really not a lot of difference between the examples.
regarding the voice: examples 1 and 4 have a small edge, example 2 is a little less convincing, but it also seemed to have less late reflections (so mixing in a little more could "cure" it).
regarding the drums: the first sounds best to me (somehow the snare wins in character). the other three are very similar, but again, they are not really worlds apart from example 1.

it would be interesting to know which is which. but don't reveal it too early, let's hear some more opinions.

cheers and thanks, akj

[Igro]

I really wish melda makes some synth with tons of features.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[Brother Charles]

for the vocal demos - my headphones here at work (on my half hour lunch break) liked samples 1 & 4.

I don't consider myself eligible for a serious reverb shootout, but here is your sample and a drumpattern with (not in this order) CSR Hall, EAReverb, MReverb and VRoom (both the vocal and the drums using the same settings). I won't tell the order for now, just to let you listen without prejudice.

http://soundcloud.com/petergonesonic/reverbs (the wav version is downloadable)

While I tried to use settings that are similar, it doesn't mean those couldn't be tweaked to sound better/more similar. It's just to give a rough comparison. I have no intention to prove anything with this example, though. Some prefer one reverb, some prefer another. *Personally*, I like MReverb the least on this example. But this could be a matter of settings, of course.

[AKJ]

SO please forgive me when i say, with a heavy heart, the reverb is awful, I have tried it multiple times on many many sources, and it is grainy and metallic in the most undesirable way possible, that reminds me of reverbs never remembered.

so can you tell which is the melda reverb in the examples?

reverbs seems to be very subjective. this German magazine tested it and rated it quite high (high grade plugin with very good test result and outstanding value for money):

http://www.professional-audio.de/bestenliste.html

(go to Hall-Plug-ins)